The October Navigators species of the month is the Greater Roadrunner. A bird that is synonymous with the Sonoran Desert. You can find these birds all over the greater Phoenix area. In the summertime when I am out birding or taking a slow desert walk I will normally see one of these feathered friends.
One morning when I was arriving at UUCP I parked in my usual spot near the back of campus. As I exited my vehicle I was pleasantly surprised to see a large bird perched on the back wall of the campus. It was no other than the Greater Roadrunner. Maybe you and your family or friends will also get to see one of our avian neighbors, the Greater Roadrunner
These beautiful elusive birds are roughly 2 feet in length. They have a long tan beak and even longer tail feathers. Their plumage is mostly shades of tan and brown. Sometimes during the breeding season you might see a bright blue and red marking behind their eyes. They have long skinny legs that help propel them while running. Another neat part of identifying these birds is that you will often see them running nearly parallel to the ground to increase their speed.
Something that may surprise you about the roadrunner is that their diet consists of some of the more hostile creatures of the desert. They consume everything from small birds and rodents to scorpions and lizards. With their stealth speed, the roadrunner can even strike and kill a rattlesnake. Their ability to adapt and consume dangerous prey is what makes these birds able to survive in the desert.
To learn more about this amazing Desert bird please visit the Cornel lab All about Birds page.
For more information, contact navigators@phoenixuu.org .